Trailblazer

The Power of Business as the Greatest Platform for Change

By: Marc Benioff, Monica Langley

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller

The founder and co-CEO of Salesforce delivers an inspiring vision for successful companies of the future - in which changing the world is everyone’s business.

"The gold standard on how to use business as a platform for change at this urgent time." (Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates and author of Principles: Life and Work)

What’s the secret to business growth and innovation and a purpose-driven career in a world that is becoming vastly more complicated by the day? According to Marc Benioff, the answer is embracing a culture in which your values permeate everything you do.

In Trailblazer, Benioff gives listeners a rare behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of one of the world’s most admired companies. He reveals how Salesforce’s core values - trust, customer success, innovation, and equality - and commitment to giving back have become the company’s greatest competitive advantage and the most powerful engine of its success. Because no matter what business you’re in, Benioff says, values are the bedrock of a resilient company culture that inspires all employees, at every level, to do the best work of their lives. Along the way, he shares insights and best practices for anyone who wants to cultivate a company culture positioned to thrive in the face of the inevitable disruption ahead.

None of us in the business world can afford to sit on the sidelines and ignore what’s going on outside the walls of our workplaces. In the future, profits and progress will no longer be sustainable unless they serve the greater good. Whether you run a company, lead a small team, or have just draped an ID badge around your neck for the first time, Trailblazer reveals how anyone can become an agent of change.

Praise for Trailblazer

"A guide for what every business and organization must do to thrive in this period of profound political and economic change." (Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase)

"In Trailblazer, Benioff explores how companies can nurture a values-based culture to become powerful platforms for change." (Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube)

©2019 Marc Benioff and Monica Langley (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Trailblazer is an urgent and compelling book for anyone in business who yearns to fulfill a higher mission in the world. Marc’s powerful and poignant stories of leadership remind each of us what we can achieve when we abandon 'business as usual' and make our values the driving force of our work." (Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, author and philanthropist)

"Marc Benioff is a champion in more ways than one! I was truly inspired by his example of how values like trust, inclusion and giving back are the foundation of successful businesses and careers. Trailblazer lays out a model for a winning culture where everyone has an equal opportunity to have their voice heard." (Billie Jean King, tennis champion and social-justice and equality activist)

"Benioff shares how his business became hugely successful not in spite of his determination to do what he believed in, but because of it. He provides a role model for talented young people in the business world, and for everyone who wants to make a positive impact." (Jane Goodall, primatologist and world-renowned conservationist)

Driving the business into the future

Me encantó como estuvo transformando la forma de manejar la empresa desde sus inicios. Y sobre todo como se puede ser consciente de las personas, medio ambiente y de los socios.

Inspirational

A must read for any Entrepreneur. Marc is a true leader and an inspiration for all those looking to lead a great team or company.

Thank you, Marc!

Trailblazer is nicely written and provides direction and inspiration to all of us to do well AND do good in business (as well as generally in life). While this is as much of a long-form advertisement for Salesforce, as a how-to for being a better business person, I think it is an inspiring autobiography that is worth reading! Thank you, Marc!

Book subtitle is accurate

Well-written, direct, and focused accounts of how Benioff and his Salesforce people (with specific and ample credit given where applicable) have attempted to tackle social issues of the day - including the costs and benefits accrued to Salesforce for taking on these issues - including inequality of all types in business and education, as well as technological powers that can be good and bad (AI).

A few early reviewers of this audible apparently have an axe to grind with Benioff himself, but their comments seem totally out of context with regard to this book in particular. The book's focus is mainly on Salesforce, and what actions they have taken as stated above, but I don't think anyone with a clear head would consider it self-aggrandizing.

I think this is a great book for this genre, and one with an implied call to action which has helped to keep my own flame burning with regard to actually implementing actions for social betterment.

A quintessential book for corporate America

Brilliant work by a truly iconic CEO who genuinely cares. Marc shares how he has built a haven for anyone looking to make a true difference in the world.

Ray Porter narrating this book is tremendous!

Ray Porter is one of the best narrators I’ve ever heard . He brings the book alive - much like Peter Coyote in the Ken Burns documentaries.

Very inspiring way of corporate story telling 👏👏

Great piece of a business success story told well. Sincere effort to narrate interesting aspects of a great business journey from a leader's perspective. Good read for nurturing corporate leadership attitude & approach. Wish the audi book was narrated by Marc himself. Still the narrator is almost close in delivering it in Marc's style. 4/5 Stars

Bob? Is that you?

It took me a little bit to get used to the idea that this book about saving the planet and society wasn’t being narrated from a far distant galaxy...

It’s a great book overall. Not everyone will like it but I think everyone should still read/listen to it. Perspective and understanding are critical elements of a constructive conversation about some very serious challenges that need to be discussed.

Thank you Marc, Monica, and Ray for putting this out into the Bobi... I mean, universe!

A must read for any business leader...

Inspiring and refreshing read... Benioff is a breath of fresh air. We need more Marc Benioff's in this world!

Bragging and hypocrisy

First off: I love salesforce. It’s a beautiful platform. I deeply wanted to love this book.

Next: this entire book is filled with Marc bragging about how good of a person he is and how enlightened he is. Neither of those are seem to be true though. The first three chapters are non-stop bragging about how much Salesforce gives back when in fact it only gives back 1% of its profits. I found the book to be liberally smug without the justification. Bummer read. Classic San Fran.